Question

x^3y^-4/x^-2y^-2 simplify

Answer 1

Do you know the rule with negative powers?

Answer 2

you change it to the reciprocal?

Answer 3

Yup so draw that out for me

Answer 4

Yep.

\[x^{-n} = \frac{1}{x^n}\]

Answer 5

Can you input the problem in a clearer way?

Answer 6

\[\frac{x^3y^{-4}}{x^{-2}y^{-2}} \]

Answer 7

right?

Answer 8

yeah

Answer 9

@marissalovescats approach is a fine one, but you also just go directly to simplifying if you are comfortable subtracting negative numbers (read: you do it without making mistakes)

Answer 10

"but you can also"

Answer 11

would I subtract the exponets first or do the reciprocal?

Answer 12

Yeah thats what I was thinking ^^^ Because the division bar acts as subtraction for the powers.

Answer 13

let's do it both ways, so you can see which you prefer. do it by reciprocals first...

Answer 14

im not sure if that's right

Answer 15

I think thats thye recipricol way but I could be wrong @whpalmer4